Hello all!!! I can't beLIEVE the date right now. Wasn't it JUST Christmas 2009!?!?!? So lately, my mind has been wandering in the June direction. I've realized that my home of 3 years will soon be disappearing from view and that's been scaring me a bit. I remember knowing in August at the start of this school year that it would pass quickly, but I had no idea it would be THIS super-human-fast! My friends and I have talked about it quite a bit in the last week or so, and it's beginning to take over a lot of my thoughts. This last week I walked out of the orphanage after an onslaught of hugs and smiles and "see you next week!"s, and felt some tears coming to my eyes. I realized that in a few months, I'll be doing that for the last time, and there won't be any "see you next week!"s. Some of the kids in the home have been there for the entirety of my stay. This pains me a bit because I want them to be a part of a great family and SOON! Knowing the family that I was blessed with growing up, makes me cringe to think about what those kids are missing. On the positive side of things I have gotten to know some of those kids so well and formed such FUN relationships with them. Hanging out with them for a while has been SUCH a joy. THIS makes it harder to leave. There are also the Lily Street Kids Club kids. These kids are still saying the names of last year's teachers who have left. Like our students at school, these kids have had teachers coming in and out of their lives each year. I hate knowing that I'll just be another one of those teachers. Furthermore, those students at school. You know those students that we see sometimes for more hours a day than their parents do? Those students who know RIGHT when I walk in the room if I'm in a good or bad mood or even whether or not I've had my coffee that morning? Some of those students have been a big part of my ups and downs for the last two years. They've been through thick and thin with me while undergoing some huge decisions and major life changes. They've stuck it out and I love them and am going to miss them like crazy when I leave in June hoping to see them again sometime when they've grown up and have become doctors, writers, teachers, and astronauts.
I know I really shouldn't be worried about this yet, but with only ten weeks to go, the list is building. That list of things I must do before I leave Ghana. More on that later...
On March 6th, 2010, Ghana turned 53 years old. For most major holidays, the entire country seems to congregate on Accra's beaches. On that Saturday, there were people for as far as the eye could see to the east...
and to the west....
It was intense. People were running on the beach, dancing, playing football, trying to swim (while many cannot-it seemed quite dangerous at times), and just being with each other in celebration for their free country. After walking around for a while, enjoying the natural splendor, we did a little tourist-shopping and then we went to a nearby restaurant on the beach. It was beautiful to sit there on the beach eating kebabs like it was any other weekend. Happy Independence Day Ghana!
Oh yeah, and that day, I also bought a sword for my brother for his birthday. I couldn't send it to him in the mail, so I had to take wicked pictures on top of a rock by the ocean. It's like I just pulled it out of a stone or something. Doesn't everyone want a sword for their 21st birthday??? Happy birthday to the best brother in the world!!!! Does anyone know any brother cooler than Matt Bauhof? 'Cuz I sure don't. love you matty
Then on another fabulous weekend, we went up to Kitasi again. Now normally we are clearing land to prepare the area for grass-planting. However, like the last time, we were lugging big buckets full of water up the hill. It was fantastic, and also super hard, work. It was worth it though!!! Do you see what the land has yielded!?
None of this was around just two weeks ago! The foundation has been poured, the walls are being set, and they are continuing to work up a storm to get this place ready for those kids! Below are the buckets we would dump OUR buckets into.
Then this guy would come and dump a bunch of rocks that would get broken up and mixed with the sand to form concrete!
While all of this was going on, Christy was busy teaching the Children of the Light kids, some new ways to count! Tally marks was still their comfortable way of counting, so it was fun to see them using this new method. :)
Biscuits and prizes were given to those who finished quickly with quality! It was a great day up on the mountain.
Then out of nowhere my brother turned 21. It happened so quickly and it blindsided me. Although I'm struggling with feelings about leaving this place, I've been struggling with feelings of missing home. It's obvious that I've missed things. I knew I was going to, and I am completely content with my decision to stay. I know it's where God wanted me and still wants me to be. It came with cons though, as most good things do. My family and friends have been so forgiving with my time away from home, knowing that this is what God wants from me and what makes me happy. However, it still makes my insides churn when I think of the fun family dinners that I'm not able to attend, grocery trips to the store with my mom, pushing down the gas pedal for my dad while his head is stuck somewhere under the hood, laughing until I pee in my pants with my sister, and buying my brother a beer on his 21st birthday. These are all things I'm crazy about missing, not to mention friend's weddings and BABIES BEING BORN. BABIES! I have friends with babies. Anyway, I just wanted to share a picture that's been bringing me smiles lately...
However, in just 11 short weeks, God willing, I'll be able to see them all again. :) I need to remind myself about how lucky I am, when my complaining brain starts to take over. About two weeks ago, two of our high school students from Grand Rapids, MI (one being a girl from the soccer team) suddenly lost their father. Our school held a memorial service and they are now back in the States with family and friends. Many of the students were wracked with grief for their friends. Some knew their father personally and had some great memories to share at the service. Consequently, last Saturday, we had a soccer match. During the pep talk, two of my high school boys suggested that we play the game for our teammate's father. Everyone unanimously agreed. We were scored on first, but my team was dedicated, we had a penalty kick that was missed, but that player vowed to get that goal BACK for Mr. R. He went on to score two goals in the match to turn the game around. The first goal was actually scored by one of our newest players. The team did SOOOOO well!!!! I am SO proud of them. With the score at 3-1. The other team was quite fired up. We began to substitute more players, which we, coaches, believed might have thrown off the rhythm of play-our bad. The other team scored 3 more goals for the win. It was an unfortunate loss because we believe if we had the fitness and a little bit deeper of a bench, we could have won. However, the boys and girls walked out of there with smiles on their faces, knowing that they did their best for themselves, and Mr. R. Way to go team. :)
Then after the game I spent SEVEN AND A HALF HOURS at my friends house, making friends with Beatrice and Grace while they pulled out my scalp to create this monster...
So one thing on that list of things to do before I leave Ghana, was to get my hair braided. CHECK! I chose dark brown and purple to supplement the sandy-brown I was born with. My students, roommates, and parents on skype all flipped out on me because it was such a drastic change, but then they got used to it. One student even told me today I looked like a rockstar. Booyah.
Another thing on the list of things to do, is to spend some more time in the villages outside of Accra. I haven't had too much time lately in my American International world to go up up up in Ghana, where life is quite different. With our Easter break coming up, I have the perfect opportunity. A few friends of mine have spent some time in a town called Bolgatanga which is right before you get to Burkina Faso (18 hours up from Accra). This is the same town where most of the kids that are in the orphanage by my school come from. There is a sister orphanage up north called Mama Ladi's. This is where myself and my friend Anne Clair will be spending most of our week. The others will be taking a lot of time in different villages on the outskirts of Bolga, purchasing wood and building desks for a good number of schools in the area, where many students are found to be sitting on the floor in class. It's going to be a fantastic week. I promise to bring home pictures and fabulous stories to update when I return.
Hey, Jesus came to save us all in a few days 2000-ish years ago...get excited. Spoiler alert: He rises from the dead.
